Army opens artillery positions to women

The U.S. Army has opened field artillery positions to women, in the military's latest step to ease restrictions on women in combat roles.

The directive, issued by Army Secretary John McHugh, would open 1,900 positions in the active-duty Army, and 1,700 in the Guard and Reserve.

"With this action, the Army continues its unwavering commitment to sustain our legacy as a world-class force by providing opportunity for all soldiers to succeed through viable career paths, and by cultivating a progressively ready force with unmatched warfighting capability," an Army spokesman said.

The Army is in the middle of reviewing positions to open to women, with the goal of putting in place new standards by the end of 2015.

On Friday, the U.S. Navy announced it, too, would increase the number of combat positions open to women – specifically, 267 spots open in the Coastal Riverine Force.

"Our continuing effort to maximize all professional opportunities for women in the Navy and Marine Corps takes another step with the opening the Coastal Riverine Force to female officers and Sailors," Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said in a written statement. "We consistently strive to ensure all sailors and Marines, regardless of gender, have a path toward a successful military career.

Mabus added that the move “not only makes us better warfighters, but it ensures our Navy and Marine Corps remains the finest expeditionary fighting force in the world."